Obama, Biden, Top U.S. Officials To Stay Away From Sochi Olympics

[JackBeck]

Source: Buzzfeed

Neither President or Mrs. Obama nor Vice President or Dr. Biden will be a part of the U.S. delegation to the Sochi Olympics. Instead, Janet Napolitano, the president of the University of California and former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, will lead the delegation to the opening ceremony.

WASHINGTON — The United States will not be sending any of its top officials — either President or Mrs. Obama or Vice President or Dr. Biden — to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, as part of its delegation to the games.

A former federal official, Janet Napolitano, will instead be leading the U.S. delegation, the White House announced Tuesday. In addition to the Obamas and Bidens not attending the Olympics, no current cabinet members will be a part of the country’s delegation either.

The highest ranking officials in the delegation will be Rob Nabors, the assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for policy, attending the opening ceremony, and William J. Burns, the deputy secretary of the State Department, leading the delegation at the closing ceremony.

The news came with less than two months until the opening ceremony is slated to take place on Feb. 7, 2014, and signaled the continued U.S. disagreement with Russia’s anti-LGBT laws and other human rights concerns.

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/top-us-officials-will-be-staying-away-from-sochi-olympics

[loudsue]

1. I wonder if that's really a good idea.

What ever happened to whirrled peas?

[TwilightGardener]

3. Between missile defense, Syria, Snowden, the LGBT issue...I can't really see us making

a big effort with Russia right now. We're not boycotting it, maybe that's good enough.

[loudsue]

5. Good point. A boycott would suck, for sure.

Probably the best of two evils, just keeping the POTUS and FLOTUS, and the vPOTUS and vFLOTUS safely at home.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. Good! n/t

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Good...nt

[go west young man]

6. Obama should go and take Billy Jean King as his date.

That would rile all the feathers. Personally I think all these world leaders miss the point of the Olympics. It's the time when we all are supposed to put aside our differences and compete together as a human family. I know Russia is on the wrong page as far as LGBT issues go but the games should not be a political football. They should be about the games and the athletes. Politics should not be a part of it. Ever.

[pampango]

9. Obama Selects Gay Athletes for Sochi Delegation (Billy Jean King is one of them)

President Barack Obama sent Russia a clear message about its treatment of gays and lesbians with who he is — and isn't — sending to represent the United States at the Sochi Olympics.

Billie Jean King will be one of two openly gay athletes in the U.S. delegation for the opening and closing ceremonies, Obama announced Tuesday. For the first time since 2000, however, the U.S. will not send a president, former president, first lady or vice president to the Games.

Russia has come under fierce criticism for passing national laws banning "gay propaganda." Though the White House did not specifically address the Russian laws in making its announcement, spokesman Shin Inouye said the delegation "represents the diversity that is the United States" and that Obama "knows they will showcase to the world the best of America — diversity, determination and teamwork."

King said she was "deeply honored" to be named to the delegation. "I am equally proud to stand with the members of the LGBT community in support of all athletes who will be competing in Sochi and I hope these Olympic Games will indeed be a watershed moment for the universal acceptance of all people," said King, who will attend the opening ceremony. Hockey player Caitlin Cahow is the other openly gay representative to the delegation. She'll attend the closing ceremony.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/white-house-unveils-us-delegation-2014-olympics-21252831

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. kick (nt)

[alp227]

8. Cute the hotels from the same fools who whine about Obama golfing or vacationing

Basically finding any desperate excuse to trash the president.